A Cocktail Reception for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award Recipients

Between resort appointments and summer plans, fashionable Manhattanites gathered at J.Crew’s Prince Street location to toast—and shop—the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund winners, Public School, Juan Carlos Obando, and Marc Alary, on their collaboration with the retailer. “It’s amazing to be able to reach a wider audience,” said Obando, in a festive and season-appropriate tropical-print shirt. “[J.Crew tells] your story on a different scale, and I never thought of that happening,” he said. Jewelry designer Jennifer Fisher, sporting Obando’s chambray shirt and tuxedo pant jumpsuit, had some difficulty choosing her look for the event. “I was going to wear the ‘I Love Public School Boys’ top, but I wanted to clean up my look for tonight,” said the designer, who accented her ensemble with pieces from her new fine jewelry line. Also feeling for chambray was Athena Calderone, in the Public School colorblocked chambray top. “I’ll wear it all summer,” she said. Sprinkled throughout the room were Steven Kolb,Tome’s Ryan Lobo and Ramon Martin,Creatures of the Wind’s Shane Gabier and Christopher Peters, and Taylor Tomasi Hill. “I haven’t bought a single thing since I left fashion and I put the Public School one I want on Instagram!” exclaimed the budding botanist. Also joining in the celebration were designers Prabal Gurung, Misha Nonoo, and the Veronicas: Swanson Beard and Miele Beard. “We bought the same thing,” said Veronica Swanson Beard, “the Juan Carlos Obando cobalt blouse and the Public School harem pant.” What did the designers think of the fashion set swarming around their goods? “It’s very fun,” said Marc Alary, “I would have never imagined that before—it’s such a different price point and customer—I want people to wear it forever.” Peering into the vitrine displaying Alary’s trinket-like pieces for J.Crew were Lynn Yaeger, Valerie Boster, and Meredith Melling. But between the food truck hors d’oeuvres on offer—empanadas—everyone was snatching up the tailored yet street-friendly gear from Public School. “It’s crazy,” said the label’s Dao-Yi Chow, “[J.Crew is] such an iconic store. It’s surreal but feels great.” [Public School] Co-designer Maxwell Osborne shared the sentiment and said, “It means the world, and this is the first time our women’s collection is debuted in retail. Jenna told us to do women’s!” And what did the lady behind the collaboration, J.Crew’s Jenna Lyons, think of the designers trying their hand at designing for a larger audience? “I get to touch things from a global level and come back and have a more intimate experience and be that much closer to the process. Seeing them make things that people wait outside to buy reminds me of why we do this.” As everyone was departing—J.Crew bags with fresh purchases in tow—shoppers flooded the store to grab what was left. Shop quickly.